MOSES: MHT Optical Star and Exoplanet Survey

Abstract

This thesis presents the design and instigation of a new optical imaging survey to search for stellar variability, exoplanets and solar system bodies. The data collection was carried out using the Moses Holden Telescope based at Alston Observatory, Preston UK. Over the course of 183 nights from our first observing season and 3 nights from our second season (with actual observing achieved on 25 nights from season 1) the survey obtained 3728 images, and obtained at least 200 repeat observations for 29,399 objects.
Preliminary analysis indicates a total of 430 stars display variability above 3σ, thereby increasing the number of known variables in the survey region by a factor of at least 200. Ongoing observations and analysis will classify the various forms of variability, and further push down the thresholds for detection of variability to allow the detection of transiting exoplanets.